Chapter 21
The muffled music echoed from the gym, growing louder each time a student meandered outside and left the door wide open. It was like Morse code. Low, loud, loud, low. I couldn’t help but wonder if the Homecoming fairies were trying to tell me something about that night. A warning maybe, or a spell for love.
“Rocky? Did you hear me?”
“What?”
Jesse laughed, yanking at my jacket. “You know, this jacket looks better on you than it does me. Maybe I should just let you have it.”
I automatically pulled the collar up and inhaled, catching a whiff of his scent—tobacco, cologne, and shampoo. I would have paid a lot of money to own it. “Nah, who’d want this old thing?”
He grinned. “You didn’t answer my question. Did you decide if you’re moving or not?”
There seemed a weight to his words, but as an impressionable seventeen-year-old, I was not worldly enough to pick up on it.
“Ugh, do I have to make such an adult decision now?” I looked down at my feet and shook my head. “Who wants to grow up?”
“You’re right; growing old is for the birds. Let’s make a promise never to turn into those boring ass adults.”
“Sure.”
Grinning, he grabbed the disposable camera by my leg. I had almost forgotten about it and was surprised Jesse even noticed the tiny box. Holding it up so the camera was pointed on us, he said, “Well, let’s commemorate this moment. Rocky and Jesse—two fun ass kids who will never become adults.”
“Okay, Peter Pan.” I giggled as he pulled me in close.
“Say cheese!”
“Cheese!”
The bright flash blinded me for a split second and I blinked, seeing stars and spots. As my vision began to correct itself, I heard Jesse place the camera down quietly beside us. “I’m hardly Peter Pan, Miss Tiger Lily.”
I grinned and bit my lip.
“To prove that point, let’s get back to our boring adult convo. Did you figure out what colleges you’re applying to?”
“I’m applying for State soon. Early admission.” The thought of college terrified me. What would I do so far away from Stephanie, my family, and of course, Jesse? Yet despite this fear I couldn’t wait to see what else was out there.
“Early admission?” A troublesome expression rested on his face. “For art?”
“What else? Speaking of which I am so mad at Mrs. McMillan!”
“Why?” he asked, though his voice seemed distant.
“Because she won’t give me back my portrait! I didn’t give her permission to keep it. I wanted to include it in my portfolio.”
“The one you drew of me?”
I blushed. “Yeah. It’s one of my favorites.”
“Well, that’s no problem. I’ll get it back for you.”
“What?” My head snapped up, nearly hitting the seat behind me.
“I promise, and Jesse Tyler never breaks his promises.”
***
“I can’t believe you kept it after all these years.” I breathed, staring at the smeared drawing. The charcoal looked a bit faded and the proportions were also way off, as I hadn’t yet mastered the art of sighting. However, Jesse’s unmistakable beautiful eyes were captured seamlessly and shaded in such a way that made you feel as if the portrait was staring back at you. It really was one of my finest works. I was quite proud of it.
“It was one of my favorite pieces,” he explained, as if reading my mind. “And the way I got this sketch was quite memorable, don’t you think?”
I sewed my eyelids shut, fighting back the tears. “No. I don’t want to think about that night again.”
“Rocky—”
“Hey, Jesse!” a deep voice boomed from behind us.
I said a quick prayer of thanks for the untimely distraction and discreetly wiped the snot from my sensitive nose. When I turned around I soon realized I could have done without the interruption.
“What’s up?” Jesse frowned as a tall man with salt and pepper hair walked in our direction.
The man peered at me curiously for a moment before breaking out into a smile. “My, my. Is that Rocky Rossi I see?”
I was pretty sure my face was tomato red, but still I tried to keep a brave face. “Mr. Tyler.”
Without warning, the older looking Jesse brought me in for a hug. “You have no idea how great it is to see you. Jesse has been going on and on about how he was finally going to—”
“Uh, Dad?” Jesse cleared his throat. His forehead wrinkled as he shook his head slightly.
Mr. Tyler lifted an eyebrow as a look of understanding flashed over his face. “Oh, uh…anyway, it’s great to see you, Rocky. It’s been a long time.”
“Six years,” I agreed, taking in his wrinkles and graying hair.
“Dad, did you want something?” Jesse sighed in annoyance.
“Well, I was going to ask if you kids were planning on driving back up.”
“Why?”
Mr. Tyler’s thin lips—which was the only physical difference the father and son carried as Jesse’s were wonderfully thick—straightened. “Haven’t you heard? There was another freak snow storm that hit Bethel Falls this evening. Needless to say, this is one of the strangest winters I’ve ever heard of. It never snows in North Carolina and suddenly they’re getting hit three times in two weeks.”
“A snow storm?” I gasped. “Shit, I wonder if Justin closed the store. I’ll be back.”
Before the two could respond, I excused myself and ducked into the nearby bathroom. I leaned against the cool tiled wall, tucked away behind the sanitary pad dispenser and dialed Justin. He answered right away, sounding exhausted.
“Rocky! Thank God!”
Shit, it was probably worse than I thought.
“Justin, are you okay?”
“We’re just busy salting the lot and the walkways right now. I was just about to call you to ask if we could close early.”
“You had the authority to decide,” I told him in confusion.
“Really? And have your dad’s wrath on me? No.”
I sighed. “I get it. Well, how bad is the snow?”
“It’s only about an inch right now, but forecast says it might go up to three.”
I winced. I was sure in other locations three inches wouldn’t cause anybody to bat an eye, but when you were located in the south, even one inch caused the town to act as if it were on the verge of the zombie apocalypse.
“Shit,” I muttered. “Yeah, close early. I don’t want anybody getting hurt driving home.”
“Thank you!”
“And make sure to get the plow ready. Once the snow stops we need to make sure everything is cleared.”
“Of course.” Justin paused. “Rocky?”
“Yes?” I rubbed my forehead, suddenly growing a massive headache.
“Why wouldn’t you know how much snow there is?”
Fuck! That’s right, I was supposed to be sick.
“Um…I’ve been stuck in bed all day.” I said quickly. “I don’t even want to get up to look out the window.”
“Oh,” he responded. “Okay, well feel better. I’ll check to see if the plow has gasoline and I’ll close up.”
“Thank you.” I shut my eyes and banged my head lightly against the wall. “Stupid. Stupid.”
After deciding my self-punishment was at a satisfactory level, I exited the bathroom and caught the tail end of the Tylers’ conversation.
“Well, you can’t drive back now. You know it’s too dangerous. North Carolinians can’t drive worth shit in the snow. Besides, they probably won’t get the roads treated and plowed until morning.”
“Ugh, but that means she has to stay my place…” Jesse’s voice trailed off.
“You can always get her a hotel if—”
“You know I couldn’t do that.”
Realizing they were talking about me, I rushed over, hating being kept out in the dark. “What’d I miss?”
Jesse for
ced a smile on his face. “Looks like we’re getting snowed in at my place tonight.”
“Your place?” I repeated nervously.
“What do you want for dinner? Pizza okay?” He pressed his lips together, glancing over at his dad. “Unless you want to eat here, which you could.”
Mr. Tyler shrugged his shoulders and put on a neutral face, acting as if he had no idea what was going on.
“Pizza,” I replied, not knowing what else to say. I couldn’t imagine spending one more second with Hannah breathing down my back.
“Okay,” he agreed.
After a moment or two of silence, Mr. Tyler clapped his hands together. “Okay, well back to work. Nice seeing you again, Rocky. Hope you guys have a good night…er…I mean a good drive back home tomorrow.”
Jesse rolled his eyes. “Goodbye, Dad.”
“Bye, Mr. Tyler.” I raised my hand and wiggled my fingers, afraid to look in Jesse’s direction. From behind me I could hear the jingle of car keys.
“You ready?” Jesse asked in a gruff voice.
“For what?” I asked, swallowing in apprehension.
“I guess my restaurant isn’t the only thing we’ll be touring tonight,” he mumbled. Forcing a smile, he gestured towards the glass doors. “Let’s get some pizza and head over to my apartment.”
“Your apartment.”
“Are you my echo?” Though he tried to keep the mood light, I could tell both of us had no idea how to feel at the moment.
Deciding that no reply was a good reply, I merely nodded and headed towards the exit, throwing Hannah one last look goodbye.
Chapter 22
Stephanie: Where are you?
Me: I’m in Charleston with Jesse
Stephanie: WHAT? WHY?
Me: He wanted to show me something
Stephanie: Show you what? His penis?
I rolled my eyes and muttered a few choice curse words under my breath before I began to text again.
Me: He wanted to explain to me—in person—all the secrets he was keeping from me
Stephanie: Like what?
Me: I’ll tell you later. Just wanted to text you that I’m not hurt or anything
Stephanie: Yet
I chewed at my lip nervously and snuck a peek in Jesse’s direction. His hands were at ten and two, wrapped so tightly that his knuckles were almost paper white.
Me: I’ll talk to you later. Bye.
I didn’t wait to see her response. Throwing the phone in my pocket, I leaned my elbow against the bottom of the window and propped my chin onto my fist.
“How’s Stephanie?” Jesse said slyly.
“How’d you know…?” I shook my head. “Forget it, dumb question.”
His grin stretched from ear to ear. “I was once part of those musketeers, remember?”
“Once.” I kept my head turned, staring at the cars and trees that passed by. As I caught sight of pedestrians, joggers, and dog walkers, I couldn’t help but wonder if any of them knew Jesse better than I did. Did any of them eat at his restaurant? Hang out with him? Date him? Once again I felt as if my stomach was punched with emotion.
“I live just three miles away from the restaurant. I usually run to work when it’s nice outside.”
I turned back in surprise. “You run?”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“Well, considering you were smoking a pack a day in high school, yes it is.” Noticing the darkening of his expression, I quickly added, “Congrats on quitting, by the way. I know it was probably a hard thing to do.”
“Have you seen my mom?” He shifted slightly, causing the leather seat to purr. “It’s not like I had a choice.”
Somehow an apology didn’t seem to suffice so I just resigned to saying nothing at all. In fact, I kept my mouth shut from the pizza parlor—only grunting when asked what toppings I wanted—all the way to his apartment complex. By the time we rolled to a stop in a space marked 5B, I was on the verge of hyperventilating.
I took a moment to stare at the building in front of me. Though it was brightly painted green, it felt as if it loomed darkly over me. It was as if a part of me knew that this night could either make us or break us even more.
We climbed up the steps to the second floor quietly, dragging our feet. It reminded me of how I’d assume prisoners walking to the gallows felt, desperate to stall the inevitable but knowing they had no choice but to trudge on. When I caught sight of the metal “5B” hanging in the middle of a tan painted door, all my fears and apprehension blew up in my face. I was almost tempted to face the guillotine myself, and was this close to asking Jesse to drive me home. Of course, I didn’t and I wouldn’t—it would be too dangerous.
Jesse’s keys jingled as he placed it into the lock. The pizza box was gripped tightly between his arm and waist and smelled like delicious cheesy goodness. Despite feeling as if my stomach was tied into knots it grumbled loudly.
“Hungry?” Jesse chuckled.
I nodded my head quietly, suddenly feeling shy.
“Well, we can eat in a second.” He turned the knob and pushed the door open, revealing a cozy apartment. “Welcome to my humble abode.”
He moved aside, allowing me to enter first. I took a hesitant step into his foyer and gazed around. The apartment was Jesse to the fullest. The walls were painted a dark blue, which made it feel like midnight despite the bright lights shining down from the ceiling fan. It created a certain ambiance that made my insides tickle.
“I don’t even have to ask you if you’re hungry,” he teased, placing the greasy box on a dark stained high rise dining table. The four seats around the table were pushed back slightly, making me wonder just how many guests he has coming and going.
Pushing back the thought, I smiled weakly. “What happened to the tour?”
Scratching his head, he shrugged, embarrassed. “It’s a small space, Rocky. Not much of a tour is needed.” He turned at his waist and pointed around the room. “Kitchen, living room, and bedroom. The laundry room is communal and on the first floor.”
Bedroom.
I felt my cheeks flush. “Oh, well, it looks like a nice place.”
And that it did. It was the stereotypical bachelor pad complete with a huge flat screen TV, worn couch, and just enough wall hangings to break up the monotony of the dark walls.
“Thanks. It’s home.”
Cue my grumbling stomach. I placed my hands on top of my abdomen and grinned sheepishly.
Jesse flashed his pearly whites. “Let’s eat.”
***
Jesse and I were perched on opposite ends of the dining table, which was pushed near the far wall of the apartment. The dining area and the living room were separated only by his couch, giving us a great view of his television set. In a comical version of déjà vu, I once again found myself barely paying attention to Law and Order, with no sense of what was going on in the show. However, if asked I could describe each bite Jesse took and each swig of water perfectly.
Peering at him from the corner of my eye, I could make out the way his top teeth bit into the crust, nibbling at the edges as if he wanted to savor each bite. Though I tried to convince myself I was still mad at him for the dildo incident and for quitting with no notice, I couldn’t help but find myself wishing it was my skin he was nibbling—tasting and savoring.
“Did you want something else to drink?”
I blinked, jarring myself from my self-induced trance. “I’m sorry?”
“I only have water here. I forgot to ask if you wanted a beer or something.”
“I don’t drink like that,” I reminded him.
“Funny, me too.” He grabbed a napkin and carefully wiped off his hands. “You tired?”
It was as if his words suddenly lulled me to sleep. I felt myself yawning and my eyes begin to water. I guess I was more exhausted than I thought after all. But if it was time to sleep, that meant we’d have to discuss sleeping arrangements, and from the look on Jesse’s face it seemed as if h
e wasn’t looking forward to having the conversation either.
As if to stall further, he reached for his water and brought it slowly to his lips. I watched his throat bob up and down with each glug he took, praying the glass would last forever. Finally, after polishing off the entire glass, he rolled out his tongue, licking the remnants of water from his lips.
Was he making this situation harder on purpose?
With shake of my head I asked, “Where can I sleep?” I pointed towards the fluffy looking couch. “I can sleep over here.”
He shook his head profusely. “No. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t have the decency to offer you my bed?”
“No, it’s okay. I really don’t mind sleeping on the couch. Believe me, I’ve slept on worse.” I let out a weak laugh and gulped.
“No, I insist. It’s my fault we’re stuck here and the least I could do is make sure you’re comfortable.”
The thing with Jesse is that if he insisted, then you better go along with the plan or he’d never stop nagging you about it. Begrudgingly, I nodded my head “Sounds great.”
Chapter 23
Jesse’s knee bounced up and down, shaking the entire column of bleachers. The world around me seemed to quicken in its orbit and I found myself reaching out and placing my hand firmly on his leg to steady my equilibrium. His jeans were ripped in strategic places, and though the mall sold what looked to be the same exact pair for about eighty dollars a pop, I could guarantee that Jesse’s jeans were worn down from years’ worth of use and dodging authority.
My fingers brushed up against his exposed skin and I felt his knee instantly warm. He abruptly pulled back his leg and twisted around so our faces were inches apart.
Despite the cold autumn night, I felt heated from my core. With each one of his exhales I felt his warm breath bathe my upper lip and I couldn’t help but imagine that this is what it would feel like only moments before our first kiss—my first kiss.
Two Outta Three (Two Outta Three #1) Page 16
